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Two Science Students selected as Fulbright Semi-finalists

April 3, 2026
Above: Abby Tang and Lucy Leary, 2026 Fulbright Semi-Finalists in the College of Science

Five University of Utah students are selected as Fulbright semi-finalists. Two of them call the College of Science home.

The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (ONCS) is proud to announce that five University of Utah students have been selected as semi-finalists for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this nationally competitive program supports academic exchanges between the U.S. and over 140 countries around the world. Selected program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or serve as English Teaching Assistants abroad. For additional information, see us.fulbrightonline.org.

For the 2025-2026 Fulbright application cycle, the U had 15 Fulbright applicants, which resulted in five semi-finalists. The U’s semi-finalist cohort represents four colleges, including the College of Education, College of Humanities, College of Science and the Honors College. The group includes one student who intends to enter a graduate program, one student who proposed a dissertation research project and three students who aim to serve as English Teaching Assistants. Projected countries for their Fulbright experiences include Germany, Italy, South Korea and Vietnam.

Featured here are the two semi-finalists seated in the College of Science: Lucy Jo Leary and Abby Tang. 

Making it to the semi-finalist round is a significant accomplishment for these students. It means that their applications have been selected by the U.S. Fulbright National Screening Committee and forwarded to the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in the host country for a final review.

Fulbright awards will be announced between April and June 2026, with the timing of notifications varying by country. Fulbright alumni from the U.S. and around the world have gone on to achieve distinction in government, science, the arts, business, philanthropy and education. Among the ranks of Fulbright alums are 62 Nobel Prize recipients, 80 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 42 current or former heads of state or government.

Please join us in celebrating these students and their accomplishments!

Category: GRADUATE STUDY

Lucy Jo Leary will be graduating this spring (2026) with an honors Bachelor of Science in mathematics. She plans to pursue a M.Sc. mathematics degree with a specialization in biomathematics and biostatistics at the Technical University of Munich in Germany.

She currently works in the Reimer theoretical and quantitative ecology lab where her interest in mathematical ecology has led her to studying the effects of power law noise on ecological long transient dynamics. She has always found math to be fun. “I love the department at the University of Utah!” she says.

“I love how much freedom math students have to explore new topics and to grow in all kinds of different directions.”

Originally from Logan, Utah, Leary is the recipient of several scholarships from the math department and the College of Science. Her application to be a Churchill Scholar was also endorsed by the U. In her spare time she plays competitive Ultimate (formerly known as ultimate frisbee), a fast-pace, 7-0n-7, non-contact team sort played with a flying disc on a field with end zones that combines elements of soccer, football, and basketball.
Not only does she play ultimate for the U but for the women’s professional team, the Utah WILD.

Category: ENGLISH TEACHING ASSISTANT 

Abby Tang will be graduating this spring (2o26) with a Bachelor of Science in biology. She plans to combine her passion for cross-cultural engagement and experience teaching adult refugees and undergraduate science students to teach English in Vietnam. Originally from Holladay, Utah, she is a member of the Pulsipher lab at the U’s Huntsman Cancer Institute where she conducts a wide range of clinical and oncology research.

 “I have always known I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, though initially I was unsure which path to take,” she explains. “I love biology and science, and my fascination has only grown over time, ultimately leading me to pursue a career as a physician. Serving as a teaching assistant for Human Anatomy and Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 sparked my interest in teaching and mentorship. Through these experiences, I developed a deep appreciation for teaching and mentorship, which inspired me to apply for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) program in Vietnam—the country my family immigrated from.”

Tang received the inaugural Mark T. Nielsen Endowed Scholarship in Human Anatomy last year, awarded to one biology student who has demonstrated excellence in anatomy studies. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking, running, going to concerts, reading and trying new foods with friends and family. As the president of the Food Recovery Network at the U she works to combat food waste. Additionally, she volunteers to teach English to refugees and is currently an intern with the U’s Office of Global Health.

FULBRIGHT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH’S OFFICE OF NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIPS

All Fulbright applicants from the University of Utah were advised throughout the application process by the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships. While ONCS is housed in the Honors College and Directed by Ginger Smoak, it serves non-Honors students and alumni from all campus areas. ONCS staff members work closely with potential applicants to help them develop competitive applications for over 35 nationally competitive scholarship opportunities, including Fulbright. This includes assessing eligibility, advising on letters of recommendation, providing feedback on written materials and tracking requirements and deadlines. If applicable, ONCS arranges practice and endorsement interviews and collaborates with campus partners to secure University endorsements.

2026-2027 FULBRIGHT APPLICATION CYCLE

The 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program competition opened on March 31, 2026 with an internal campus deadline of August 21, 2026. To that end, ONCS will offer Fulbright information sessions, individual consultations and writing workshops in the coming months. To learn more about ONCS and how it supports Fulbright applicants, contact Alison Shimko, the U’s Fulbright Program Advisor and the Associate Director of ONCS, at [email protected], consult https://nationallycompetitivescholarships.utah.edu/ or follow ONCS on social media @uofu_oncs.